Organized to serve as a ready reference, this book covers the design & principles of operation of microwave electron linear accelerators for the radiation treatment of cancer. Designed for use by persons without extensive knowledge & experience of accelerator technology, the book assumes a knowledge of elementary physics & mathematics & places its emphasis on how accelerators actually function & how they are used in cancer treatment. Coverage includes the history of development & application, general theory of acceleration, accelerator systems, radiation beam systems & associated equipment, performance characteristics, testing & use. The major modules of a representative medical accelerator are described, including principles of operation & how these models function collectively to produce electron & X-ray beams for radiotherapy.

Linear Accelerators for Radiation Therapy, Second Edition focuses on the fundamentals of accelerator systems, explaining the underlying physics and the different features of these systems. This edition includes expanded sections on the treatment head, on x-ray production via multileaf and dynamic collimation for the production of wedged and other intensity modulated beams, on electron scattering systems, and on dosimetry. With high-quality illustrations and practical examples throughout, it contains a detailed description of electron beam optics and linear accelerator components. The final chapter explains how to use other equipment, such as scanners and simulators, in conjunction with linear accelerators for optimum treatment of cancers.

This unique resource offers you a clear overview of medical and industrial accelerators. Using minimal mathematics, this book focuses on offering thorough explanations of basic concepts surrounding the operation of accelerators. You find well illustrated discussions designed to help you use accelerator-based systems in a safer, more productive, and more reliable manner. This practical book details the manufacturing process for producing accelerators for medical and industrial applications. You become knowledgeable about the commonly encountered real-world manufacturing issues and potential sources of defects which help you avoid costly production problems. From principles of operation and the role of accelerators in cancer radiation therapy, to manufacturing techniques and future trends in accelerator design and applications, this easy-to-comprehend volume quickly brings you up-to-speed with the critical concepts you need to understand for your work in the field.

By the mid-1950s, a linear accelerator suitable for treating deep-seated tumors was built in the Stanford Microwave Laboratory and installed at Stanford Hospital. It served as a prototype for commercial units that were built later. Since that time, medical linear accelerators gained in popularity as major radiation therapy devices, but few basic training materials on their operation had been produced for use by medical professionals. C.J. Karzmark, a radiological physicist at Stanford University, was involved with medical linacs since their development, and he agreed to collaborate with Robert Morton of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (formerly the Bureau of Radiological Health), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in writing the first edition of this primer.

Electron linear accelerators are being used throughout the world in increasing numbers in a variety of important applications. Foremost among these is their role in the treatment of cancer. Commercial uses include non-destructive testing by radiography, food preservation, product sterilization and radiation processing of materials such as plastics and adhesives. Scientific applications include investigations in radiation biology, radiation chemistry, nuclear and elementary particle physics and radiation research. This manual provides authoritative guidance in radiation protection for this important category of radiation sources.

Research and development of high energy accelerators began in 1911. Since then, progresses achieved are:The impacts of the accelerator development are evidenced by the many ground-breaking discoveries in particle and nuclear physics, atomic and molecular physics, condensed matter physics, biology, biomedical physics, nuclear medicine, medical therapy, and industrial processing. This book is intended to be used as a graduate or senior undergraduate textbook in accelerator physics and science. It can be used as preparatory course material in graduate accelerator physics thesis research. The text covers historical accelerator development, transverse betatron motion, synchrotron motion, an introduction to linear accelerators, and synchrotron radiation phenomena in low emittance electron storage rings, introduction to special topics such as the free electron laser and the beam-beam interaction. Hamiltonian dynamics is used to understand beam manipulation, instability and nonlinearity. Each section is followed by exercises, which are designed to reinforce the concept discussed and to solve a realistic accelerator design problem.